Nephrology, initially born as a small branch of medicine, has, in the last few decades, become an extraordinary large field of medicine. The recent development of renal medicine is mirrored by the numerous nephrological journals published, a natural consequence of the increasing number of basic and clinical research studies performed continuously all over the world. Undoubtedly the progress which has occurred in the different, specific fields of renal medicine has given rise to subspecialities which range from renal physiology and pathology to hemo- and peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation. Even the diagnostic methodology in nephrology, very useful in the clinical practice, has become a speciality within the speciality. Thus, the problem for clinical nephrologists, as well as for internists, is to remain continuously up-dated in all fields of nephrology. Nephrology textbooks are published continuously and in great number. However, the time required for having authors appointed, chapters completed, manuscript edited, galley proofs corrected and the whole book printed makes many textbooks already out of date when they go on sale and their half lives are very short. On the other hand, nephrological journals are so many and the articles so numerous and detailed, that it is often impossible to rely on them for up-dating practicing clinicians.

Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology.- 1. Renal nerves and catecholamine regulation of renal function.- Glomerulonephritis.- 2. Changing concepts in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.- 3. Light-chain deposition disease: diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.- Hypertension.- 4. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in clinical practice: uses and abuses.- Urinary Tract Infections.- 5. Determinants of the development of acute pyelonephritis and pyelonephritic renal scarring.- The Kidney in Pregnancy.- 6. Aspirin in hypertension of pregnancy.- The Kidney and Diabetes.- 7. Strategies for slowing progression of diabetic nephropathy.- Hereditary Renal Diseases.- 8. Alport's syndrome.- Pediatric Nephrology.- 9. The use of recombinant human growth hormone in children with chronic renal failure.- Geriatric Nephrology.- 10. The ageing kidney: practical considerations in the management of the elderly patient with renal disease.- Acute Renal Failure.- 11. The pathogenesis of typical, diarrhea-associated, hemolytic uremic syndrome.- 12. Incidence, risk factors, prevention and treatment of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy.- Chronic Renal Failure.- 13. Use of recombinant human erythropoietin in the anemia of progressive renal failure.- Dialysis.- 14. Malnutrition in patients on renal replacement therapy.- 15. Reuse of dialyzers. Advantages and drawbacks.- 16. Practical issues in prescribing peritoneal dialysis.- Renal Transplantation.- 17. Living donors for renal transplantation: ethical considerations.- Diagnostic Methods in Nephrology.- 18. Non-invasive measurement of body fluid dynamics.